Sheet material dispenser apparatus

Abstract

A device for sequentially dispensing sheet material from a primary roll and a reserve roll including rotatable dispensing rollers, at least one of the rollers having a groove therein, sensing means for entering the groove when sheet material from the primary roll is depleted and tucker means responsive to such movement to engage reserve roll sheet material and introduce it between the rotatable rollers.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a dispenser cabinet for sequentially dispensing sheet material from a primary roll and a reserve roll, the improvement comprising: a plurality of selectively rotatable rollers, at least two of said rollers defining a nip and at least one of said rollers having at least one depression formed therein;   sensing means in registry with said depression and urged theretoward, said sensing means engageable with sheet material being dispensed from said primary roll along a predetermined path between the sensing means and depression and prevented by said primary roll sheet material from entering said depression;   tucker means for engaging sheet material from said reserve roll and introducing said reserve roll sheet material into said nip responsive to the absence of said primary roll sheet material between the sensing means and depression and to the subsequent entry of said sensing means into said depression; and   mounting means, said sensing means and said tucker means being mounted for joint pivotal movement about said mounting means.   
     
     
       2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said sensing means and said tucker means comprise at least a portion of a unitary structure. 
     
     
       3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said sensing means and said tucker means each comprise elongated members spaced from one another and extending substantially parallel to said rotatable rollers. 
     
     
       4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the sensing means elongated member has a tab projecting therefrom for positioning in said depression upon the absence of said primary roll sheet material between the sensing means and said depression.